Accused in fatal stabbing of taxi driver unable to control behaviour due to mental illness, forensic psychiatrist tells court
The mental health of a 22-year-old Winnipeg man accused of murdering a taxi driver was the focus of a forensic psychiatrist’s testimony Tuesday in court.
Okoth Obeing is on trial for second-degree murder in the March 2020 death of Balvir Toor, 44, on Burrows Avenue in the city’s North End.
The Crown has told court Obeing is criminally responsible due in part to a dislike of cab drivers over requests for prepayments, which prosecutors are arguing he viewed as disrespect. But lawyers for the accused disagree, pointing to Obeing’s mental illness and its impact on his thoughts and behaviour.
Defence lawyers played portions of surveillance video from Winnipeg Police Service headquarters Tuesday in the Manitoba Court of King's Bench.
It's video of the accused in the custody of Winnipeg police following his arrest on Mar. 19, 2020, just hours after the homicide.
Dr. Jeffrey Waldman, a forensic psychiatrist who court heard conducted an assessment of Obeing, testified Obeing's actions in the video are consistent with his mental illness.
"His emotions are extremely dysregulated and he's having trouble controlling his behaviour despite the circumstances,” Waldman told Justice Joan McKelvey.
It's a trial court has heard is about state of mind.
Video from inside the taxi captured Obeing fatally stabbing Toor. Court has heard the driver was stabbed 17 times before Obeing ran from the scene of the incident.
During questioning by Alex Steigerwald, Obeing’s lawyer, Waldman testified Obeing has bipolar disorder and has episodes of mania.
“He becomes more agitated and aggressive and that is his main presentation,” Waldman told the court.
Steigerwald later asked Waldman if Obeing knew or understood what he was doing when he pulled out the knife in Toor's taxi.
“The symptoms of his illness left him unable to use thought to control his behaviour,” Waldman testified.
Asked by Steigerwald if Obeing understood what he was doing when he began to stab Toor, Waldman testified: “The symptoms of his illness left him unable to consciously control his behaviour at that point."
Court has heard Obeing was discharged from hospital Mar. 10, 2020, after being taken to the Crisis Response Centre Feb. 26, 2020.
Waldman testified it's his opinion Obeing was released too soon with an inadequate dose of anti-psychotic medication, medication court has heard Obeing reported he wasn't taking in the days leading up to Toor's killing.
Court has also heard Obeing was on probation for a dispute with a taxi driver in July 2019 in which he pleaded guilty to mischief.
The Crown is set to begin cross-examination of Waldman on Wednesday.
The trial continues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.